Ohio’s own high energy psychedelic rock and roll jam band Ekoostic Hookah is hosting its biannual party, “Hookahville ’99” Friday, and for the first time, the all-weekend event will take place at the Buckeye Lake Music Center. This year’s event includes a special appearance by former Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir and his band Ratdog.Jeff Spencer, Ekoostic Hookah’s manager (so he’s a little biased), said Hookahville is probably one of the best festivals there is. “It’s just a fun, happy, friendly atmosphere,” he said. Some people that have been to it for the first time keep coming back year after year. The first Hookahville was held in May 1994, and drew 792 people. Last year’s event had about 8,500 people in attendance. “This year we plan on having around 15,000 people attend,” Spencer said.Hookahville has been held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and features camping, vending, camaraderie and a day of music. The festivals are all self-produced, which gives the band the chance to create their ultimate playing environment. Past events have drawn such artists as Leftover Salmon, Zero and Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band. This year Hookahville will feature Jamie Notarthomas, Jazz Mandolin Project, Calobo, and Bob Weir’s Ratdog.Grateful Dead Productions manager Dennis McNally was at every single Grateful Dead show held at Buckeye Lake “It’s always nice to play outside, and at Buckeye Lake it’s excellent,” he said.McNally said Ratdog has not played outside since last year, and that they’ve been seriously working on new material for the past four months.”They’re hot to play in front of people,” he said. “They’ve really evolved in the past three years, and they’re a rip snortin’ psychedelic rock and roll band.” Dave Katz, Ekoostic Hookah’s keyboardist, and one of the co-founders of the band in 1991, said Ekoostic Hookah likes to jam, but that still does not categorize what its music is really like. “We try to mix in as many different styles and genres of music as we’re capable of and that keeps it definitely more interesting for us as players, and hopefully more interesting for people as listeners,” he said.The band has been known to throw in a cover tune or two during a performance, and Katz indicated they will probably play a few new cover tunes at Hookahville that no one has heard them play before. “We hope we get a chance to have Bob come out and jam with us, maybe play some cover tune with us that Bob has never played before so we can have a first,” Katz said.At past Hookahvilles, Katz said they’ve always had a great line-up of bands playing and it creates an atmosphere everyone enjoys. “The whole production of Hookahville is top-notch,” Katz said. “We always have great musicians, great food, all the way to the stage lighting and sound.”The Buckeye Lake Music Center is located about 30 miles east of Columbus on 1-70, at exit 132, state route 13. Gates will open at noon Friday and close at noon Sunday. Tickets are $40 through TicketMaster or at the door. For further details check out the websites: www.hookahville.com or www.ekoostic.com.